Target with automatically terminating visual indicator



March 10, 1970 J. w. HUBBARD TARGET WITH AUTOMATICALLY TERMINATING,VISUAL INDICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 2a. 1967 l/VVENTOR JOSEPH WHUBBARD 5y March 10, 1970 J. w. HUBBARD 3,499,651

TARGET WITH AUTOMATICALLY TERMINATiNG, VISUAL INDICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filer; Feb. 23, 19s? Qlb a0 Jose/w W HUBBARD 5Y9,

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,499,651 TARGET WITH AUTOMATICALLYTERMINATIN G VISUAL INDICATOR Joseph W. Hubbard, Los Angeles, Calif.(26573 Basswood, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Calif. 90274) Filed Feb. 23,1967, Ser. No. 617,972

The portion of the term of the patent subsequent to Sept. 30, 1986, hasbeen disclaimed Int. Cl. A63b 63/00 US. Cl. 273-1022 6 Claims ABSTRACTOE THE DISCLOSURE There is disclosed herein an improved toy targetarrangement having an indicating circuit operating .On low voltage, suchas that supplied by small batteries. The indicating circuit provides aselective indication by means of a visual signal depending upon theportion of the toy target that is struck by a projectile. The visualsignal persists for a predetermined time period and then isautomatically extinguished. Upon extinguishment, the circuit isautomatically reset so that it will be activated again to provideanother visual signal upon the next impingement of a projectile.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This invention is an improvementon my patent application, Ser. No. 479,409, filed Aug. 13, 1965.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This inventionrelates to a toy target arrangement and more particularly to a combinedtarget and indicating structure that provides a visual indication ofhits on the target when the target is struck by a projectile.

Description of the prior art Target arrangements, and more particularlyindicating target arrangements that provide a positive indication of ahit on a target, are often desirable for recording hits by manydifferent types of projectiles. While many complicated and expensivetarget systems have been devised, particularly for bullets and the like,there has long been a need in the toy industry for a target that wouldprovide a positive indication of a hit from such diverse objects as BBs,projectiles from air guns, darts, and the like. 1

Since such projectiles may not be electrically conductive, the targetarrangements must provide a positive and reliable indication of the hitwithout requiring utilization of any electrically conductive propertiesof the projectile. Further, it is deirable that the indication of a hitnot only be provided reliably upon each hit, but that the indicatingportion of the target arrangement must be capable of distinguishing andproviding a proper indicating signal depending upon which portion of thetarget has been struck by the projectile. That is, desirably, theindicating system provides a means for selectively scoring hitsdepending upon the area of the target that is struck by the projec tile.

In toy target applications particularly, it is desirable that theindicating means operate at a location remote from the position occupiedby, for example, the person firing the projectile, and, preferably, theindicating means should be on or adjacent to the target. Further, thevisual indication provided should, preferably, operate automatically fora predetermined time period and then be extinguished in order that asubsequent strike by the projectile on the same target area may beindicated.

Target arrangements utilized in the past have not ice always been ableto achieve the above desiderata. More particularly, some of the priorart target systems have provided an electrically operated indicatingsystem that depended upon the projectile itself establishing electricalcontinuity between two electrodes to provide a completed circuit for anindicating arrangement. Since, as noted above, the projectiles may notalways be electrically conductive, such arrangements are completelyuseless when the projectile is not electrically conductive and'further,such arrangements do not often provide completely reliable indication ofhits due to the comparatively unknown surface condition of evenelectrically. conductive projectiles when impacting upon the target.This was true for both the types of targets wherein the projectilepassed completely through as well as thosewhere they impacted andrecoiled. When target arrangements are utilized for BBs, air guns,darts, or the like, it must be remembered that basically suchprojectiles are comparatively low velocity and the target system must bedesigned to satisfactorily function and provide hit indications withsuch low velocity projectiles.

Other prior target systems which did not require utilization of anelectrically conductive projectile often required that the projectilepass completely through the target to insure contact between twoflexible penetrable electrodes that have been penetrated completely bythe projectile. Such target arrangements have often proved inaccurateand/or unreliable in providing hit' indication, since the projectileoften removed portions of one of the electrodes as it passed through thetarget and'thereby did not allow contact between the two electrodes toprovide hit indication. Such target systems requiring penetrationtherethrough by the projectile are, of course, generally not adaptableto darts or the like and are generally unacceptable from a safetystandpoint for BB guns, air guns, or similar such arrangements. In suchtoy arrangements for indicating hits by projectiles from BB guns, airguns, darts or the like, it is desirable, of course, that the projectileimpact upon the target structure, but not pass completely through, inorder that the spent BB and/or pellet from an air gun remain in thetarget area after impacting upon the target. Darts, of course, neverpass through the target, but only impact upon the target.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of this inventionto provide an improved toy target arrangement.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved toy targetarrangement that includes a hit indicating portion.

It is another object of this invention to provide a toy targetarrangement including a hit indicating portion that provides reliablehit indication when utilized with comparatively low velocity projectilesthat do not penetrate completely through the target arrangement.

It is yet another object of applicants invention to provide a hitindicating toy target arrangement that provides reliable hit indicationindependently of the electrical conductivity properties of theprojectile.

It is a still further object of applicants invention herein to provide atoy target arrangement including a hit indicating portion wherein thehit indicating portion provides a visual indication of the particularportion of the target impacted by the projectile.

The above and other objects are achieved, according to one embodiment ofapplicants invention, by providing in a target structure a firstelectrode comprising a comparatively thin electrically conductivesubstantially rigid plate-like sheet that is adapted to remain intactafter impact by preselected projectiles. The preselected projectiles, ofcourse, may be any desired type of projectile, but applicants inventionherein has particular application to such projectiles as BBs, pelletsfrom air guns, darts, or the like, which are generally of acomparatively low velocity nature. The first electrode is bonded to arigid substrate to provide structural integrity to the first electrode.The first electrode may, if desired, be divided into a plurality ofdiscrete segments, corresponding to any preselected array such as thecommon bulls eye target array, and each of the segments are electricallyinsulated from each other.

A second electrode is spaced a predetermined distance away from thefirst electrode and the second electrode comprises at least oneelectrically conductive layer, such as metallic foil or the like, thatis adapted to be penetrated by the preselected projectiles impacting onthe target. A dielectric layer which, for example, may be Mylar, orsimilar such substances, and having a predetermined resiliency, isintermediate the first electrode and the second electrode to provideelectrical insulation therebetween. The dielectric layer is also adaptedto be penetrated by the projectile upon impact thereon. The secondelectrode may, in certain embodiments of applicants invention, beconsidered as including the dielectric layer in intimate contact withthe electrically conductive layer of the second electrode.

In the preferred embodiment of applicants invention, applicant includesan energy absorbing layer in front of the second electrode so that thesecond electrode is between the dielectric layer and the energyabsorbing layer. The outer face of the energy absorbing layer has atarget diagram imprinted thereon. In the embodiment of applicantsinvention wherein the first electrode is divided into a plurality ofdiscrete segments electrically insulated from each other, the targetdiagram, of course, corresponds to the pattern of the segments of thefirst electrode.

The energy absorbing layer may include an energy absorbing substancebetween the surface having the target diagram thereon and the secondelectrode. Such energy absorbing substance may, if desired, be cork,glass fibre, cardboard, or the like. The energy absorbing layer isdesired by applicant where the target will be operated at comparativelyclose distances to the point where the projectiles originate such as thefiring line where BB guns or air rifles are utilized, or the startingline where darts are utilized.

It will be appreciated that the energy absorbing layer may or may not beutilized in any particular application of applicants invention herein asmay be desired from considerations of safety, convenience, or the like.

An indicating means is provided and the indicating means is electricallyoperated and connected between the first electrode and the secondelectrode. The indicating means includes a visual indicator, such as ablink lamp.

Means are provided to supply a voltage across the lamp. When aprojectile impacts upon the target it penetrates through the energyabsorbing layer, if present, through the second electrode includingpenetration completely through the dielectric layer and impacts againstthe first electrode. In the penetration through the electricallyconductive layer of the second electrode, the electrically conductivelayer is bent inwardly in the direction of flight of the projectilethrough the hole formed in the dielectric layer and contacts the firstelectrode. This contact between the electrically conductive layer of thesecond electrode with the first electrode acts as a momentary switch toimpress a trigger voltage to the trigger terminal of a siliconcontrolled rectifier to provide a voltage across the lamp so that thelamp goes on to provide the visual signal. However, as the projectilerecoils from the first electrode, since the projectile does notpenetrate through the first electrode, the contact between theelectrically conductive layer of the second electrode with the firstelectrode is usually broken. The preselected resiliency of thedielectric layer that is utilized aids in breaking the contact, since inthe preferred embodiment of applicants invention the resiliency of thedielectric layer causes it to be self-sealing and therefore terminatescontact between the first electrode and the electrically conductivelayer of the second electrode after recoil of the projectile. However,because the silicon controlled rectifier continues to conduct once ithas been triggered, the lamp will remain lit providing an indication ofhit, even though contact between the second electrode and the firstelectrode is broken. After a predetermined time period, the lamp blinksoff removing the voltage from the circuit and returning the siliconcontrolled rectifier to the nonconductive state, the lamp remainsde-energized until the next hit.

Where a plurality of segments are utilized in the first electrode, aplurality of lamps are utilized with appropriate connections to eachindividual segment so that one lamp is lit when contact is made with thecorresponding segment to which the lamp is connected.

The above and other embodiments of applicants invention may be morefully understood from the following detailed description, taken togetherwith the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference charactersrefer to similar elements throughout and in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE 1 is a sectional view throughone embodiment of applicants invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view along the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 illustrates another embodiment of applicants invention;

FIGURE 4 illustrates a projectile impacting on applicants improvedtarget arrangement;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic diagram of the circuitry associated with oneembodiment of the hit indicating circuit of applicants invention herein;

FIGURE 6 illustrates another embodiment of applicants invention;

FIGURE 7 is a schematic diagram of another hit indicating circuit; and

FIGURE 8 illustrates a blink lamp useful in the practice of applicantsinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the above-mentioned patentapplication, there is described an improved toy target arrangement. Asdescribed therein and as shown in FIGURE 1, there is a target, generallydesignated 10, having a first electrically conductive electrode 12. Thefirst electrode 12 is bonded or otherwise attached to a back-up sheet14. The back-up sheet 14 may be wood or any other desirable substance toprovide rigidity to the first electrode 12. If desired, the firstelectrode 12 may be comprised of a plurality of segments 16, 18, 20 and22, and each of the segments 16, 18, 20 and 22 are electricallyinsulated from each other. As shown on FIGURE 2, the first electrode 12is divided into the segments 16, 18, 20 and 22 to provide the standardbulls eye target arrangement. It will be appreciated that any otherpreselected array of the segments 16, 18, 20 and 22 may be utilized,theonly requirement being that each of the segments so that indicationof hit upon a particular segment may, as described below, be uniquelyprovided.

When the back-up sheet 14 is wood or some similar dielectricsubstance,'then no dielectric space between the first electrode 12 andthe back-up sheet 14 is required. However, if the back-up sheet 14 wereto be made of an electrically conductive substance, then an intermediatedielectric layer between the first electrode 12 and the back-up sheet 14would be required.

If desired, dielectric rings may be placed in the spacesbetween thesegments 16, 18, 20 and 22, comprising the first electrode 12,butapplicant has found that such dielectric spacers are generally notrequired in the preferred embodiment of applicants invention.

In such a preferred embodiment, the first electrode 12 may beelectrically conductive metallic sheet on the order of 0.050 to 0.075inch thick and may be bonded directly to the back-up sheet 14. Then thegrooves separating the segments 16, 18, 20 and 22 extend through thefirst electrode 12 down to the back-up sheet 14 to provide electricalinsulation between the segments 16, 18, 20 and 22.

A comparatively thin dielectric layer 25 having a preselected degree ofresiliency is positioned intermediate the first electrode 12 and a firstelectrically conductive, comparatively thin layer 26. A secondcomparatively thin electrically conductive layer 28 is separated fromthe first electrically conductive layer 26 by a resilient layer 30. Theresilient layer 30 may be the same material as the dielectric layer 24or, ifdesired, they maybe fabricated from different materials. There isno absolute requirement that the resilient layer 30 also be adielectricin nature. However, of course, it is absolutely necessary that thedielectric layer 24 be a good dielectric to provide selective electricalinsulation between the first electrically conductive layer '26 and thefirst electrode 12.

The dielectric layer 24, because of its resiliency, acts in aself-sealing manner to allow substantially only momentary contactbetween the first electrode 12 and the electrically conductive layers 26and/or 28 of the second electrode. Similarly, in those embodiments ofapplicants invention wherein the dielectric layer 30. is utilizedbetween two electrically conductive layers such as layers 26 and 28, inthe second electrode, the dielectric layer-30 not only provides astructural integrity to the second electrode 32, but also thepredetermined resiliency thereof also provides a self-sealing action tohelp insure that only momentary contact is made. It will be appreciated,of course, thatin applicants invention described herein, only momentaryelectrical contact between the first electrode 12 and the electricallyconducting layers of the second electrode 32 is desired so thatrepetitive scoring, as described below, may be accomplished.

The layers 26, 28 and 30 may be considered to com:

prise a second electrode, generally designated 32, and while thedielectric layer 24 may, in some embodiments of applicants invention, besupplied as part of. the sec: ond electrode 32, it will be appreciatedthat the basic requirement is that the second electrode 32 have at leastone layer of electrically conductive material and that the dielectriclayer- 24 provide the/selective insulation between the second electrode32 and the'first electrode 12.

As shown on FIGURE 3, a first electrode 32 may comprise .onlya singleelectrically conductive layer 26' adjacent the dielectric layer 24. Thatis,-in the embodiment shown on FIGURE 3, the second electrode 32' isonly comprised of the single layer of electrically conductive material26. It will beappreciated that whether a single layer of electricallyconductive material, such as shown on FIGURE 3, or a plurality of layersof electrically conductive material, such as shown in the secondelectrode 32 on FIGURE 1, .or even if more than! upon the surface 40 maycorrespondto the conventional bulls eye type of target.

A first surface 42 of the energy absorbing layer 34 is adjacent to andpreferably in intimate contact with the electrically conductive layer28. In some embodiments of applicants invention, on the layers 24, 26,28 ar'1d30 may be bonded or otherwise attached to the first surface 42of the energy absorbing layer 34 and this entire assembly may be placedin front of the first electrode 12 to complete the target structure.Then, as the assembly.

comprising the energy absorbing layer 34 and the layers 24,26, 28 and 30is repeatedly punctured by projectiles impacting thereon and travelingtherethrough, when the utility of the assembly has been substantiallyimpaired, the entire assembly may be conveniently, economically andeasily replaced with another.

It will be appreciated, of course, that the dielectric layer 24 may beprovided separately from the layers 26, 28 and 30 comprising the secondelectrode 32 and the dielectric layer 24 may be provided directly on thefirst electrode 12 rather than as part of the assembly with the energyabsorbing layer 34 as described above. Depending upon the number oflayers intermediate the first surface 42 of the energy absorbing layer34 and the first electrode 12, it will be appreciated that there arevirtually an infinite number of combinations of dielectric layers andelectrically conductive layers in the first electrode and their relativeplacement on one orv the other of the structures or completelyindependent therefrom. That is, the second electrode 32 together withthe dielectric layer 24 may be supplied independently of the energyabsorbing layer 34 andthe first electrode 12. Such an arrangement isdiscussed below in connection with the description of FIGURE 6.

When a projectile 44 impacts upon the target structure 10, theprojectile 44 penetrates through the. outer layer 38 and the energyabsorbing substance 36 of the energy absorbing layer 34 and loses someof its kinetic energy in traversing therethrough. Similarly, theprojectile 44 penetrates completely through the electrically conductivelayer 28, the resilient layer 30, the electrically conductive layer 26,and the dielectric layer 24 to impact against the first electrode 12. ItWill be appreciated that the scale of the layers ,of the structurecomprising the target 10 shown herein has been exaggerated for clarity.Actually, the layers 24, 26, 28 and 30 are comparatively thin, on theorder of 0.001 to 0.007 inch thick.

FIGURE 4 illustratesthe moment of impact of the projectile 44 againstthe first electrode. As shown on FIG- URE 4, the projectile 44 haspenetrated through the outer.

layer 38 and energy absorbing material36 of the energy absorbing layer34 and has ruptured the layers 24, 26, 28 and 30. However, before theprojectile 44 recoils from the first electrode 12 in the directionindicated by the arrow 46, there is contact made between theelectrically conductive layer 28 and, in some impacts, also between theelectrically conductive layer 26, and the first electrode 12*and/orthelayer 28. The dielectric layer 24 has been ruptured by the projectile 44and because of the-resiliency thereof has actually tended to pull awayfrom the impact area to allow the contact between the electricallyconductive layers 26 :and/or 28 with the first electrode 12.

Whenthe projectile44 recoils from the first electrode- 12 in thedirection indicated by the arrow 46, the resiliency ofthe dielectriclayer 24 and resilient layer 30 be-- causeof the self-sealing action,tendsto remove the electrically conductive layers26 and 28 from-contactwith the first electrode .12 so that at;the time of impact there is;

only a momentary contact between. the electrically conductive layers 26and 28 with the first electrode 12.;After the recoil the electricallyconductive layers 26 and 28 are no longer in contact withthe firstelectrode 12. Because of the nature of the energy absorbing layer 34.andmore particularly the energy absorbing substance 36, the projectile 44generally does not re-emerge from the target above description isbelieved byapplicantto be substan-.

tially correct, although it will be appreciated that the exact mechanismfor contact between at least one of the electrically conductive layers26 and 28 with the first electrode 12 will vary depending upon the typeof projectile 44, the velocity and kinetic energy thereof, as well asthe exact composition of the various components defining the structure10.

Referring again to FIGURE 1, a lead 48 is provided to the segment 22, alead 50 is provided to the segment 20', a lead 52 is provided to thesegment 18, and a lead 56 is provided to the segment 16. Similarly, alead 58 is connected to a contact means 60 that is fastened to thebackup sheet 14 and contacts the first electrically conductive layer 26and the second electrically conductive layer 28. The connecting means 60is insulated, for example, by insulator cap 62 from the first electrode12 and more particularly the segment 16 thereof.

The above structure comprising a preferred form of the toy target asdescribed in the above-mentioned patent application, Ser. No. 479,409,may uniquely be utilized with the improved low voltage automaticallyoperating hit indicating circuitry of this invention.

FIGURE illustrates in schematic form the hit indicating circuitry forproviding a visual indication of the hit of the projectile on thetarget. As shown on FIGURE 5, there are a plurality of visual indicators72, such as 72a, 72b, 72c and 72d, provided and the number of visualindicators 72 corresponds to the number of individual segments in thefirst electrode 12. In this embodiment of applicants invention, theindicating means 72 are blink lamps of the type that are adapted tobecome illuminated upon application of a predetermined voltagethereacross and to remain illuminated for a given period of time afterwhich they blink off. Such lamps may be of the type manufactured, forexample, by General Electric Company, No. .GE405 and is commonlyutilized in various applications heretofore.

' A low voltage source, such as a battery 74 has one terminal connectedto a first terminal 76 on each of the lamps 72. As described below ingreater detail, a first predetermined voltage is thus selectivelyapplied across the lamps 72 to energize the lamps 72 to provide a visualsignal.

A plurality of control means 78, such as 78a, 78b, 78c and 78d, which,for example, may be silicon controlled rectifiers are provided inone-to-one relationship with the plurality of indicating means 72 andeach of the silicon controlled rectifiers has a cathode terminal 80,anode terminal 82 and a trigger terminal 84. The silicon controlledrectifiers 82 are of a well known design and function in a well knownmanner. For clarity, the fuction of the silicon controlled rectifiers isto provide conduction between the cathode terminal 80 and anodeterminal82 only when a predetermined voltage is applied to the trigger terminal84. That is, the voltage applied between the cathode terminal 80 and theanode terminal 82 is generally greaterthan that applied to the triggerterminal 84 and is controlled thereby. The application of the voltage'tothe trigger terminal 84 need only be momentary to start conduction ofthe silicon controlled rectifier between the cathode terminal 80 and theanode terminal 82. Such conduction continues until there is aninterruption in this circuit.

Thus,-the second terminal of the battery 74 is connected to the cathodeterminals 80 of the silicon controlled rectifiers 78, thus providing avoltage potential across each of the indicating means 72 for thecondition of the silicon controlled rectifiers 78 conducting. Theresistors, 91a, 91b, 91c, and 91d, provide a discharge path for chargebuild-up on the trigger terminal.

For the arrangement shown in FIGURE 1, Where there are four separatesegments, 16,18, 20 and 22, comprising the first electrode 12, there arethe four separate leads 54, 52, 50 and 48, respectively, therefrom. Eachof these leads are connected, respectively, to one ofthe trigger 8terminals 84 on the silicon controlled rectifiers 78a, 78b, 78c, and78d.

Since the first electrode 12 is not in contact with the second electrode32 except for the condition of an impinge ment of a projectile providingthe momentary contact therebetween, this function is illustrated onFIGURE 5 schematically by the switches 86a, 86b, 86c, and 86d. That is,the switches 86 represent the function of the momen tary contactprovided between the first electrode 12 and second electrode 32 as theresult of the impact of a projectile thereon as described above. "I iThe lead 58 from the second electrode 32 is connected to the equivalentof the other side of the switch means 86 and through a limiting resistor88 to a tap 90 on the battery 74. The tap 90 provides a secondpredetermined voltage less than the full output of the battery 74 thatis applied across the indicating means 72. For example, when utilizingsix to eight volt blink lamps as the indicating means 72, the battery 74may be a nine volt batte y and the tap 90 may be provided to give theequivalent of, for example, three volts to be applied at the triggerterminals 84 on the silicon controlled rectifiers 78. Thus, if theprojectile strikes the target 10 as illustrated on FIGURE 1, in the areaof the segment 16, then the equivalent of switch 86a is closed and thereis provided a circuit be-' tween leads 58 and 54 to provide the triggervoltage at the trigger terminal 84 of silicon controlled rectifier 78a.This application of the trigger voltage turns on silicon controlledrectifier 78a to allow conduction therethrough and; consequently, thefirst predetermined voltage as determined by the battery 74 is appliedacross the visual indicator means 72a and this provides a visual signalindicating that the target has been hit in the area defined by thesegment 16 of the first electrode 12. After a predetermined time period,as determined by the cycle frequency of the blink lamp utilized as thevisual indicator 72a, the lamp goes out and breaks the circuittherethrough. The silicon controlled rectifier 78a then ceases toconductand will not conduct again until another application of triggervoltage is provided at the trigger terminal 84 thereof.

Similarly, for projectile strikes in the areas 18, 20 or 22 of the firstelectrode 12, the closing of an equivalent switch 86b, 860 or 86d,respectively, will occur. The silicon controlled rectifier 78b, 78c or78d, respectively, will then be allowed to conduct and lamp 72b, 72c or72d, re-' spectively, will become illuminated to provide a visual signalindicating the projectile hit in the appropriate area of the firstelectrode 12.

Therefore, even though the application of the trigger voltage to thesilicon controlled rectifiers is momentary, the silicon controlledrectifiers 80, by their nature, continue to conduct even after theremoval of the trigger voltage until the circuit therethrough is broken.I v

Unique utilization of the silicon controlled rectifiers 78 in thisapplication allows a low voltage target indicating means to be providedin a scoring target arrangement. With the circuit shown in FIGURE 5,comparatively long life of the battery 74 is achieved since there isvirtually no current drain during non-illuminating conditions of thelamps 72.

In the above embodiment of the hit indicating circuitry as illustratedschematically in FIGURE 5, it can be'seen that there is a separate blinklamp for each of the segments in the first electrode. In thisembodiment, the blink lamps serve two purposes: that is, the blink lampsare both the means for providing a source of visual signal as well aspart of the control means for terminating, automatically, the visualsignal after a predetermined time.

In other embodiments of applicants invention, the two functions may beprovided by separate elements. .One such arrangement is illustrated inFIGURE 7. As shown on FIGURE 7, there isillustrated schematically thecircuitry for one such hit indicating system, designated generally 100.The circuit illustrated on FIGURE 7 is generally similar to the circuitillustrated in FIGURE 5 and com-" prises a source of low voltage such asa battery 102 and a plurality of silicon controlled rectifiers 104, suchas 104a, b, c and d, in a one-to-one correspondence relationship withthe number of segments in the first electrode. Also, the function ofmomentary contact between electrically conductive portions of the firstelectrode and the second electrode that occurs during an impingement ofa projectile on the target is indicated schematically by the pluralityof switches 106a, b, c and d.

A low voltage tap 108 is provided on the battery 102 and is connectedthrough resistor 110 to the lead 58 from the second electrode 32. Theleads 54, 52, 50 and 48 are connected, respectively, to a triggerterminal 112 on each of the silicon controlled rectifiers 104a, 104b,1040 and 104d, respectively. The cathode terminal 114 of each of thesesilicon controlled rectifiers 104 is connected to one terminal of thebattery 102.

A plurality of conventional lamps 1161:, 116b, 1160, and 116d, areconnected to the anode terminal 118 of each of the silicon controlledrectifiers 114, respectively, and to the other terminal of the battery102 through a blink lamp means 12. The lamps 116 may, for example, beconventional flashlight bulbs or other similar low voltage lamps.

The blink lamp 120, the battery 102, the resistor 110, and the siliconcontrolled rectifiers 104, may all be similar, respectively, to theircounterparts illustrated in FIGURE as described above.

In operation of the embodiment shown on FIGURE 7, when a hit is made onone of the segments, such as segment 22 of the first electrode 12 asillustrated on FIG- URES 1 and 2, there is the functional equivalent tothe momentary closing of the switch 106b and consequently there isprovided a trigger voltage from the low voltage tap 108 through resistor110 to the trigger terminal 112 on silicon controlled rectifier 104d.Application of this trigger voltage turns on the silicon controlledrectifier 104d to allow conduction therethrough and, consequently, avoltage is supplied through blink lamp 121, lamp 116d and siliconcontrolled rectifier 104. Lamp 116d is thus illuminated to provide avisual signal indicating a hit in the section 22 of the target. However,after a predetermined time, the blink lamp 121 blinks oif and terminatescircuit continuity to the lamp 116d. Consequently lamp 116d isextinguished and is not illuminated again until there is another hit inthe section 22.

It will be appreciated that a similar control is applied to the lamps1160, 116b, 116a, depending upon the location of the hit upon thetarget.

In this embodiment of'applicants invention herein, the blink lamp 121has a timing mechanism to automatically extinguish the visual indicatinglamps 116 after a predetermined time. The blink lamp 121 need not, ifdesired, be visible to the person firing the projectile to the targetthough, of course, in other applications it may be desirable to have theblink lamp 121 provide a visual signal to indicate a hit and theindividual lamps 116 provide the visual information signal as to a hitat a specific location.

The resistors 123a, 123b, 1230 and 123d provide a discharge path forcharge build-up on the terminals 112 of the silicon controlledrectifiers 104.

For convenience in understanding the operation of applicants improvedcontrol circuitry herein, applicant provides a brief description of atypical blink lamp as utilized in the above-mentioned circuitsillustrated schematically in FIGURES 5 and 7 hereof. As shown on FIGURE8, there is illustrated a blink lamp 180 that may be similar, forexample, to the blink lamps manufactured by the General ElectricCompany, No. GE405, as mentioned above. The blink lamp 180 is containedwithin a glass or otherwise transparent envelope 182 and is provided, onthe inside of the glass envelope 182, with a filament 184 and abi-metallic strip 186. Leads 188 are connected to one end of thefilament 184 and to one end of the bimetallic strip 186. When voltage isapplied across the leads 188 the filament is illuminated and currentflows through the filament 184 and bi-metallic strip 186. This heatsboth the filament 184 and bi-metallic strip 186 and as the bi-metallicstrip 186 heats above a predetermined point it moves in a directionindicated by the arrow 188 to break contact with the filament 184 whichterminates the flow of electrical energy through the filament 184 andthus extinguishes the blink lamp 180. Since, in the abovedescribedembodiment of applicants invention as shown on FIGURES 5 and 7, theblink lamp is in series with a silicon controlled rectifier, the siliconcontrolled rectifiers are also turned off when the bi-metallic strip 186moves away from the filament 184 to the blink lamp 180.

The above-described embodiment of the circuitry of applicants inventionherein may be utilized with the target structure illustrated in FIGURES1, 2, 3 and 4 above, or with other target structures, such as thatdescribed below in connection with the structure shown in FIGURE 6. Itwill be appreciated, though that applicant has utilized the leadnomenclature shown on FIGURE 1 for the circuitry illustrated in FIGURES5 and 7, but this nomenclature is not to be construed as a limitationupon the particular target structure with which applicants inventionherein may be utilized.

In theactual structure comprising one embodiment of applicants improvedtarget arrangement, applicant has found that the dielectric layer 24 andthe resilient layer 30 may be fabricated from materials such astetrafluoroethylene (Teflon), monochlorotrifluoroethylene (Kel-F),Mylar, Saran, rubber, waxed paper, or the like. Similarly, theelectrically conductive layers 26 and 28 may be metal foil such asaluminum foil on the order of 0.001 to 0.007 inch thick. As noted above,the energy absorbing material 36 may be any desired thickness of cork,glass fibre, card-board or the like. The outer layer 38 of energyabsorbing layer 34 may be heavy paper, or any other material upon whicha suitable target may be imprinted.

As noted in the above-mentioned patent application, Ser. No. 479,409,the second electrode 32 may be supplied, along with the dielectric layer24, in many different configurations in front of the first electrode 12.FIGURE 6 illustrates another embodiment of applicants invention showinganother arrangement for providing applicants improved targetarrangement. As shown on FIG- URE 6, there is an energy absorbing layer120, which, for example, may be comprised of an outer layer 122 and anenergy absorbing substance 12-4 and in general be similar to the energyabsorbing layer 34 shown on FIGURE 1. A suitable target diagram 126 isprovided on the outside surface of the outer layer 122.

A first electrode 128 which, for example, may be divided into aplurality of segments 130, 132, 134 and 136, all electrically insulatedfrom each other, is mounted on a back-up sheet 138 and in general may besimilar to the first electrode 12 and the back-up sheet 14 shown onFIGURE 1. Similarly, in FIGURE 6, a plurality of leads 140, 142, 144 and146 are individually connected to each one of the segments 132, 134, and136, in a manner similar to that described above in connection withleads 48, 50, 52 and 54, and segments 22, 20, 18 and 16 in FIGURE 1.

A second electrode 150 is provided and, in this embodiment of applicantsinvention, may include a first electrically conductive layer 152 and asecond electrically conductive layer 154, separated by a resilient layer156, which layers may be similar to the electrically conductive layers26 and 28 and the resilient layer 30 of FIGURE 1. These three layers maybe considered to comprise the second electrode 150. 1

The second electrode 150, together with a dielectric layer 158 that isintermediate the electrically conductive layer 154 and the firstelectrode 128, are wound upon a spindle means 160 a preselected numberof turns and extend between the energy absorbing layer 120 and the firstelectrode 128 to a take-up spindle 162.

A spring clip means 164 may be provided for electrical connection to theelectrically conductive layers 152 and 154 to the lead 166.

Operation of this embodiment of applicants invention is the same as thatshown for the embodiment on FIG- URE 1, except that as a secondelectrode 150 and the dielectric layer 158 become worn or providepermanent shorts between the segments of the first electrode 128 and theelectrically conductive layers 152 and/or 154, fresh portions secondelectrode 150 may be unwound from the spindle 160 and the used portionsof the first electrode 150, together with the used portions ofdielectric layer 158 may be wound up on the take-up spindle 162.Applicant has found that in many applications, the energy absorbinglayer 120 has a longer life than the first electrode 150, and/or thedielectric layer 158, and therefore only these layers need be replacedat comparatively frequent intervals, as compared to the replacement timefor the energy absorbing layer 120.

This concludes the description of applicants invention of an improvedtarget system. From the above, it can be seen that applicant hasprovided an indicating target arrangement that provides a positiveindication not only when a hit has been made, but where there are aplurality of discrete target areas, an indication of which particulartarget area has been hit. Such hit information is provided even thoughthe projectile striking the target is a dielectric material.

The hit indicating arrangement for applicants improved toy target ofthis invention utilizes in the preferred embodiment thereof a lowvoltage system that for a condition of momentary contact between thefirst electrode and second electrode provides a visual signal for agiven period of time and then automatically terminates.

What is claimed is new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. In a toy target arrangement, the improvement comprising, incombination:

a first electrode comprising an electrically conductive,

substantially rigid, planar-like means remaining intact after subjectionto impact by preselected projectiles;

a second electrode comprising a laminate having at least oneelectrically conductive layer, another electrically conductive layer,and a resilient layer intermediate said at least one electricallyconductive layer and said another electrically conductive layer;

a dielectric layer intermediate said first and said second electrodesand in intimate contact therewith and penetrated by said projectiles forallowing said at least one electrically conductive layer of said secondelectrode to at least momentarily contact said first electrode for thecondition of said second electrode and said dielectric layer penetratedby said projectile, and said dielectric layer being movable with respectto said first electrode for providing relative motion between said firstelectrode and shorting portions of said at least one electricallyconductive layer of said second electrode for the condition of saidsecond electrode and said dielectric layer penetrated by saidprojectile; and

electricallly operated indicating means connected between said firstelectrode and said second electrode for indicating said at leastmomentary contact of said at least one electrically conductive layer ofsaid second electrode with said first electrode;

a visual indicator means for emitting a visual signal for the conditionof said at least momentary contact between said first and said secondelectrodes, and said visual indicator means comprising a blink lamp; and

control means for automatically terminating said visual signal apredetermined time period after said at least momentary contact betweensaid first and said second electrodes, and said control meanscomprising:

a silicon controlled rectifier having anode, cathode and triggerterminals thereon; and

a source of low voltage'electrical energy for aplying a firstpredetermined voltage to said visual indicator means for the conditionof said at least momentary contact between said first and secondelectrodes to cause said visual indicator means to emit said visualsignal.

2. In a toy target arrangement, the improvement comprising, incombination:

a first electrode comprising an electrically conductive, substantiallyrigid, planar-like means having a plurfality of electrically conductivesegments and each of said electrically conductive segments electricallyinsulated from each other of said segments, and said first electroderemaining intact after subjection to impact by preselected projectiles;

a second electrode comprising a laminate having at least oneelectrically conductive layer, another electrically conductive layer,and a resilient layer intermediate said at least one electricallyconductive layer and said another electrically conductive layer;

a dielectric layer intermediate said first and said second electrodesand in intimate contact therewith and penetrated by said projectiles forallowing said at least one electrically conductive layer of said secondelec trode to at least momentarily contact said first electrode for thecondition of said second electrode and said dielectric layer penetratedby said projectile, and said dielectric layer being movable with respectto said first electrode for providing relative motion between said firstelectrode and shorting portions of said at least one electricallyconductive layer of said second electrode for the condition of saidsecond electrode and said dielectric layer penetrated by saidprojectile;

electrically operated indicating means connected between said firstelectrode and said second electrode for indicating said at leastmomentary contact of said at least one electrically conductive layerofsaid second electrode with said first electrode and selectivelyindicating which of said plurality of electrically conductive segmentsof said first electrode is contacted by said at least one electricallyconductive layer of said second electrode for the condition of saidsecond electrode and said dielectric layer penetrated by saidprojectile, and said electrically operated indicating means comprising:

a visual indicator means for emitting a visual signal for the conditionof said at least momentary contact between said first and said secondelectrodes, and said visual indicator means comprising a plurality ofblink lamp means in oneto-one relationship with said plurality ofsegments of said first electrode, and each of said blink lamps having afirst terminal and a second terminal;

control means for automatically terminating said visual signal apredetermined time period after said at least momentary contact betweensaid first and said second electrodes, and said control means comprisinga plurality of silicon controlled rectifiers in one-to-one relationshipwith each of said blink lamps and each of said silicon controlledrectifiers having an anode, a cathode and a trigger terminal, and saidsecond terminal of said blink lamps connected to said anode terminals ofsaid silicon controlled rectifier;

lead means for connecting each of said plurality of electricallyinsulated segments of said first electrode to one of said triggerterminals of said silicon controlled rectifier; and

21 source of low voltage electrical energy connected across said firstterminal of each of said indicating means and said cathode terminals ofsaid silicon controlled rectifiers to provide a first predeterminedvoltage across said blink lamps for the condition of said at leastmomentary contact between said first electrode and said second electrodefor providing a trigger voltage at said trigger terminal of said siliconcontrolled rectifiers to cause said silicon controlled rectifiers toconduct; and T an energy absorbing layer having a first surface adjacentsaid second electrode, whereby said second electrode is intermediatesaid firstsurface of said energy absorbing layer and said dielectriclayer, and said 15 energy absorbing layer having a second surface spacedapart from said first surface and said second 5. In a toy targetarrangement, the improvement comprising, in combination:

a first electrode comprising an electrically conductive,

surface having a preselected target diagram thereon andsaid targetdiagram corresponding to said plurality of segments, and an energyabsorbing material intermediate said first surface and said secondsurface of said energy absorbing layer.

substantially rigid, planar-like means having a plurality ofelectrically conductive segments and each of said electricallyconductive segments electrically insulated from each other of saidsegments, and said first electrode remaining intact after subjection toim- 3. The arrangement defined in claim 2 and further compact bypreselected projectiles; prising: a second electrode comprising alaminate having at lead means for Connectlng d second electrode to aleast one electrically conductive layer, another elecsource of lowvoltage electrical energy to provide a trigger predetermined voltage,less than said first predetermined voltage, to said trigger terminals onsaid silicon controlled rectifiers for the condition of said at leastmomentary contact between said first electrically conductive layer, anda resilient layer intermediate said at least one electrically conductivelayer and said another electrically conductive layer;

a dielectric layer intermediate said first and said second electrodesand in intimate contact therewith and trode and said second electrode,and said blink lamps penetrated by said projectiles for allowin said atterminating Said first predetermined voltage to said least oneelectrically conductive layer of said second blink lamps and toysaidSilicon controlled fectifiel's electrode to at least momentarily contactsaid first after a pl'edetefmined time Period 0f Visual Signal electrodefor the condition of said second electrode g q i and said dielectriclayer penetrated by said projectile,

by 531d appllcatloll of f f trlggel' Voltage to sald and said dielectriclayer being movable with respect trigger terminals of said 51116011controlled rectifiel's to said first electrode for providing relativemotion causes said silicon controlled rectifiers to conduct to betweensaid fi t electrode and shorting portions f F X fiPP y Said firstpredetermined voltage acr said at least one electrically conductivelayer of said 581d 'bllllk lamps t0 PTOVIde sald vlsual slgnal' 40second electrode for the condition of said second f In y f i arrangementthe Improvement electrode and said dielectric layer penetrated by saidprising, in combination: projectile;

' first elecfrode FQ P electrically P P Y electrically operatedindicating means connected be- Substantlany 3 Plana r'hke means remammgtween said first electrode and said second electrode l after sublectlollt0 Impact y preselected P for indicatingsaid at least momentary contactof said lectlles; at least one electrically conductive layer of saidsec- Second electrole a lammate havmg at 0nd electrode with said firstelectrode and selectively one elecm ca1ly conductlve another indicatingwhich of said plurality of electrically conmcany conductlve layer and areslhent layer Inter ductive segments of said first electrode iscontacted a? said at least electrically cfmductive layer by said atleast one electrically conductive layer of P salfi anothe? Enducnvelayer} said second electrode for the condition of said second dlelecmclayer f F l sald first and l electrode and said dielectric layerpenetrated by said 0nd electrodes m i a Contact thqrewlfll andprojectile, and said electrically operated indicating penetrated by saidpro ectiles for allowing said at means comprises. least one electricallyconductive layer of said second a visual indica'tor means for emitting avisual Si electrode to at least momentarily contact said first nal forthe condition of Said at 16 ast mom 6 electrode for the condition ofsaid second electrode Contact between Said first and Said second andsaid dielectric layer penetrated by said projectile, trodes and Saidvisual Si nal indicator means and said dielectric layer being movablewith respect com risin g to said first electrode for providing relativemotion -i ofl t 1 between said first electrode and shorting portions ofa g g gg iigzfi? 33: 2:: :2 said at least one electrically conductivelayer of said Said g e1 ectro de d g 2. g g lam second electrode for thecondition of said second means havin a first terminal nd g electrode andsaid dielectric layer penetrated by said terminal g a a Sec projectile;and

electrically operated indicating means connected beconlrollmfaanslfor gil i z Sald tween said first electrode and said second electrode igsllgna a pre 6 ermme tlmebpeno i for indicating said at least momentarycontact of said if 5 momgmflry Contact d etvyeen Sal at least oneelectrically conductive layer of said secrst an Sal 9 e ectrodes an saldcontrol ond electrode with said first electrode, and said elecmeans itrically operated indicating means comprising: a Plurahty of f irecufiers i a visual indicator means for emitting a visual one'to'onerelatlonshlp w1th f of Sald signal for the condition of said momentaryconm means and each of sald slhcon tact between said first and saidsecond electrodes, trolled fectifiers having all a a Cathode and saidvisual indicator means comprising a and a trigger terminal, and SaidSecond lamp means for emitting a visual signal; terminals of said lampmeans connected in 15 a one-to-one relationship with said anodeterminals of said silicon controlled rectifiers, and a blink lamp meanshaving a first terminal and a second terminal, and said and said targetdiagram corresponding to said plurality of segments, and an energyabsorbing material intermediate said first surface and said secondsurface of said energy absorbing layer.

6. The arrangement defined in claim Sand further comprising:

lead means for connecting said second electrode to a first terminal ofsaid blink lamp means connected to a source of low voltage electricalenergy and said second terminal of said blink lamp means connected to afirst termi nal of said lamp means, whereby said source of low voltageelectrical energy, said blink lamp means, said lamp means and saidsilicon controlled rectifiers are connected in series for each of saidplurality of segments of said first electrode;

source of low voltage electrical energy to provide a trigger voltageless than said first predetermined voltage to said trigger terminals onsaid silicon controlled rectifiers for the condition of said at leastmomentary contact between said first electrode and said second electrodeto cause said silicon controlled rectifiers to conduct to thereby applysaid first predetermined lead means for connecting each of thepluralities of electrically insulated segments of said first electrodeto one of said trigger terminals of said silicon controlled rectifiers;and

said cathode terminals of said silicon control rectifiers are connectedto said second terminal of 20 said low voltage electrical source;whereby said momentary contact between said second electrode and atleast one of said segments of said first electrode provides a triggervoltage to said trigger terminal of at least one silicon controlledrectifier to turn on said silicon controlled recti- References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS fier and provide a voltage across on of said 7, 7111/1949 Havey 273102.2 lamp means to generate a visual signal there-2,576,960 12/1951 Y- from; 2,749,125 6/1956 Ream. an energy absorbinglayer having a first surface ad- 2,319,085 11/1958 Brown et a1. jacentsaid second electrode, whereby said second 3,112,110 11/1963 clw man.electrode is intermediate said first surface of said en- 3,147,464 9/1964 splelmafl 340-332 X ergy absorbing layer and said dielectric layer,and said energy absorbing layer having a second surface ANTON OECHSLEPnmary Exammer spaced apart from said first surface and said second M RPAGE, Assistant E i surface having a preselected target diagram thereon

